'How Pesky. For someone who is a social recognized genius I can sure be an idiot at times.' Rua thought as she finally started to calm down a bit from her little 'chat' with the Hyuga boys.
Fatigue began to take over her body as she leaned back in a vain attempt to relax a bit before walking into a living version of hell (A room filled with her extended 'family'). 'I'm just lucky I was able to keep a straight face during all of that or else I might have cracked. A fight would have been way too pesky.'
'Why? You have enough strength to take those Hyuga's down. They were just a couple of boys who wanted to scare you, nothing more and nothing less. Sometimes it's not about being brave in the face of danger, it's just about being willing to face it at all.' A second voice suddenly rang in Rua's head.
'Please. I'm a coward. No one can ever say I faced danger because in truth I'd rather be running away from it. The only reason I didn't run this time was because I was mad they hurt Ayuma.'
'That doesn't make you a coward silly girl. It just makes you smart and wise.'
Rua snorted at the voice in her head. That damn voice was always in the back of her mind trying to reason with her. Usually it was simple enough to block out but it seemed to be getting clearer and stronger ever since she'd gotten to the leaf village.
Sighing the girl rubbed at the bridge of her nose softly to warn off the headache that was starting to form. "Fuck I already have a headache coming on and this damn meeting hasn't even started yet."
"Troublesome isn't it. I got a headache to. Mine is from being in the same room as my mother for so long, she's been yelling at me for hours. Your mom yelled at me for a while to, I just can't win today. Makes me wish I hadn't even gotten out of bed this morning."
Shikamaru gave one of his small tight lipped smirks as he sat next to his daughter. Lazily he began to play with strands of Rua's wild dark black hair that had fallen out of her ponytail and into her well hidden eyes. Something he always did when he was unsure about what to say but knew that he had to say something.
"Where are your siblings?" Shikamaru asked.
"I told them to go hide out in the forest. I'm their older sister, it's my job to protect them from people who want to hurt them no matter who they are. If the Naras and Hyugas want them they're going to have to get threw me. No matter how pesky it is."
The lazy genius smiled at his daughter's words that filled his heart with pride "I might not say it enough but I am proud to call you my daughter. Not because you're the smartest or the strongest person, but because no matter what I know you're a good person."
"Thanks Dad, but what am I going to do?"
Shikamaru shrugged "That's up to you Rua. This isn't my fight or your mothers, it's your turn to decided what you want to do. All I can do is remind you, we live in a unfair world. It's a fact. You'll never get anything without fitting for it. Now with that being said, prepare for pain because you're going to lose some fights no matter what. Do you understand?"
"Ya. I understand Dad."
"No you don't but one day you will." Shikamaru smiled softly at Rua before standing up with a yawn. "Now come on. Go show all those troublesome idiots what kind of Nara-Hyuga your mother and I raise, and why we're so proud to say it."
Rua smiled at her father and finally made up her mind on what to do.
~~!~~
'Now that's just cold.'
Rua couldn't help but stare at the Head of the Hyuga's. It wasn't Hyuga Hiashi as she thought it would be, but instead it was Hyuga Hinabi. Hinabi's white pearl eyes were filled with a fierce and powerful hatred that made Rua's blood turn to ice and any confidence she might have had shrivel up. Because unlike all the other looks of hatred (that were mostly aimed at Rua) Hinabi's was staring down at Hinata with almost a murderess intent.
Hinata was forced to sit with her respective clan, between her father and some distant cousin that no one really knew the name of (or really cared enough to). Despite the rather icy atmosphere and murderess intention surrounding her, Hinata stayed very well composed and made sure to hold herself with confidence. Two things she was never able to do as a child but now as a wife and mother she had enough pride to.
Shikamaru (who was forced to sit with the Nara's) on the other hand was preparing to jump to his wife's aid if need be. Not caring about the spiteful (and a bit violent) looks of his own family members that surrounded him, Shikamaru just kept a watchful eye on his daughter and wife.
He just sat back, laying in wait like the deer he was.+
"Where are your siblings?" A Nara elder asked Rua sharply(and coldly).
Rua lazily put her hands behind her head in an attempt to give a look of composer. When in reality the only reason she hadn't tried to run away yet was because she wanted to protect her siblings (and that her feet were frozen to the floor in fear). "I told them to hide till this meeting was over. I decided they shouldn't have to be here. This meetings pesky enough without them."
"You little brat, who do you think you are to decide something like that. This meeting is to decided your punishments...all four of you children 's punishments" Hinabi growled spitefully.
"Nice to meet you to 'Auntie' Hinabi, you're just a ball of sunshine at parties aren't you? And this meeting is to enforce the laws of the village's clans, not a chance for you to try and punish us." Rua muttered finally gathering enough courage to look at the women for more than a second. "We've got parents for that already. Good ones at that, despite what you people might think."
"Well isn't this a surprise the daughter of coward and a weakling having enough audacity to talk back." Hiashi said as he gave a dry and humorless laugh. "To save time we'll just begin without the other three children and after we've come to a 'decision' well send a few of the hundred of well trained ninjas at our disposal after them. You aren't a very smart one are you."
"Condescending Jerk." Rua muttered.
Hinata had to hide her small smile as she watch her fathers face twist in disgust at Rua's insult. Very few people dared insult Hyuga Hiashi and no one had ever dared to do such a thing in front of so many people.
"That's enough, let's just get this started so we can all get on with our day. Okay as outlined in the Clan law book made by our ancestors we-"
"So." Rua grinned as she effectively cut off Shikaku, who looked at her impassively but had a hint of annoyance in his brown eyes. "I was reading over some of the clan laws in this book the Hokage was kind enough to lend me. Now can someone describe to me this 'inheritance by linage? You know I'm just not that familiar with these terms and stuff."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow as he looked at the rather smug girl before him. As clan head to the Uchiha family he had to show up for this, to quote Rua 'pesky meeting'. He had expected this to go by quick and for the four siblings to receive the cage bird seal and be exiled from the Nara clan, but he had got a strange feeling about the look of Rua's face. Who knows maybe she'd prove this not to be a complete waste of his time.
Hiashi frown grew deeply as he glared at Hinata "Didn't you teach her anything? Inheritance by Linage is the passing down of heir/heiress rights to the oldest child of the rightful heir/heiress. A strict law that is in enforced unless the Line of Inheritances is officially broken by the clan formally."
"And the Hyuga's Curse seal ritual?"
"Simple. When the rightful Heir/Heiress of the Hyuga clan turns three all Branch members are sealed. The Main family is excluded. Unless instructed by the Hokage for reasons of village security."
"And what about the Heir/Heiress can they be sealed?"
"No. The title excludes them as well but there has never been a Heir of Heiress born outside of the Main Branch so it usually doesn't matter."
Rua hummed lightly and nodded in thought "Thanks for clearing that up. You can continue now."
"So the Hyuga's will have all four of Nara Shikamaru and Hyuga Hinata's children sealed tomorrow on the account of them being branch members-" Hinabi started.
"Sorry but you can't do that." Rua hummed softly.
Hinabi looked down at the Nara-Hyuga in annoyance and anger "Excuse me. I am the Hyuga clan head I can do whatever I want. When I took the title as Head that meant that Hinata became a branch member herself. Meaning any of her children born were born as Branch members you little brat."
"Ya 'Auntie' you're the Hyuga clan head but I'm the rightful Hyuga and Nara Heiress. Neither the Hyuga's or the Nara's formally broke the line of linage by inheritances. So as oldest daughter of both Nara Shikamaru and Hyuga Hinata I will be claiming my titles as of today."
Everyone started chattering at once as Rua grinned evilly at both clan's heads who were glaring at her in unhidden hatred. Shikamaru smirked at the loophole and Hinata frowned a little in worry.
"The other three brats are still able to be sealed. They have no titles to protect them." A Nara Elder hissed.
"You're right but I can promise you if you so much as harm a hair on their head you'll regret it."
"Why is that?"
"By the laws of your stupid book I can rightfully take my spot as head of both clans at sixteen and none of you can stop me. I promise you, if you hurt any of my siblings my first act as Clan head will be dissolving both the Nara and Hyuga clan and making the Nara-Hyuga clan. All of your power, money, and history will be gone."
"You wouldn't dare."
"Try me."
A deep tension feel over the room as all the clans looked at each other in question. The Nara's tried to strategize their next move, while the Hyuga's tried to use politics to gain their favor. Soon both realized that Rua was too much of a veritable to ignore in any accounts and until they knew more each clan was in danger of losing everything, a factor Rua undoubtedly already figured out.
"Fine you win for now at least. The Hyuga's won't touch your siblings, but you're forgetting a very important thing only a Ninja can be Clan head of either of our clans. So what are you going to do little civilian girl?" Hinabi asked "The life of a ninja is a dangerous one. One that might not let you live to the age of sixteen."
"I haven't forgotten and tomorrow I will formally have my name added to the leaf village roster and begin my duty as a Genin. I've already finished my village's own Academy and despite not being to your level I'm sure I will be qualified enough."
The Hyuga white eyes and Nara brown eyes all glared spitefully at the girl as the other clan's representatives watched in shock. The Nara's silently agreeing to Rua's terms to protect their secrets and prized medicine.
"Glad to see we're all in agreement. I look forward to seeing you all around, I've got some sibling to go find and tell the great news. I'd say it was a pleasure but it really wasn't."
Rua turned and left the room with an air of confidence but in reality she had to get away before she throwing up because of fear and building anxiety.
The end...for now
To clear up a few things. The whole 'Shikamaru laid in wait like a deer' thing was because I'm trying to give Shikamaru a few deer like qualities i think he might get as he gets older and have a family. On of them being watching things carefully but ready to run when needed. Second i know people might not like how i changed up the story from the Original Naruto, but the way i see it is Rua and Naruto's experiences in the village would be completely different.
Naruto was an Orphan, determined to become i ninja, and wasn't really part of the politics that would probably be in a clan.
Rua has a family, only really cares about protecting that family, and is thrown right into the politics of two big clans.
Anyway if you don't like the story just don't read it, I promise i wont be offended. If you do like the story please review and say what you like and things you want to see.
Lastly, yes Rua hears voices in her head. No they are not exactly normal but will be built upon as the story continues.